Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-02-11
A VERY REMARKABLE FIGHT.
Four Elephants Against One Mana
Showman's Daring-The Hot Iron.

Showmans Daring-The Hot Iron.
"While travelling through the country
with Barnum in 1881, said veteran
Snowman, IL witnessed one of the most
remarkable fights on record. Four ele-
plants against one man, and in the water,
too. In July or August, 1881, our show
struck the pleasant little city of Ottawa,
Ills. You are, doubtless, aware that ele-
plants are extremely fond of bathing.
For some little time before coming to
Ottawa they had been deprived of that
pleasure. No sooner We're they unload
ed from the train, however, than their
sharp little eyes caught sight of the river
and the news was trumpeted about in
elephant language from one to the other.
They were very FESTIVE all day and be-
trayed great anxiety to battle, and as soon
as the afternoon performance was over
the under keepers marched them to the
river bank. | assure you many seconds
did not elapse before the whole herd,
twenty-three in number, were splashing
and dashing in the water like lot of
school boys. Such a strange sight natur-
ally attracted the attention of the towns
people and the farmers who, with their
idiiiinto' iittNi ullNtll Ill W SIT lIlt SIlOW,
and I doubt very much whether the river
at Ottawa ever presented such an ami
mated appearance ss on that day,
after a while the keepers shouted
Mile up, which in elephant phraseology
means fall in. Nineteen Immediately
swan to shore, but no amount of shout
ing could induce the other four to return.
Men were sent with rocks to the bridge
and the entire circus force swarmed
along both river banks trying with stones
to turn the huge beasts in the direction of
the canvas, but all in vain. AS last re-
source the chief trainer, George Arting-
stall, was sent for. The poor fellow had
been sick in bed for over a week with
malaria, but on learning of the difficulty
Immediately dressed himself and came to
the bank. Calling each elephant by
name he ordered them to Mile up For
a moment it looked as though his COM
mand would be obeyed for the elephants,
recognizing his voice. halted and seemed
to waver in their course. Albert. the
oldestand biggest, however. settled the
matter by uttering loud snort of def
ance, and led by him they once more
started up stream. Seeing at a glance
that he could do nothing on shore, Mr..
Artingstall made for the dressing room
tent, from which he soon emerged dressed
in tumbler's tights, and, placing the ele-
plant prod or fork between his teeth,
boldly swan out to the elephants.
used as we were to strange sights we
yet almost held our breath at this daring
act. When within a few yards of them
Artingstall again shouted mile up, but
without effect. Then, seeming to lose
his temper, he sprang upon the back of
the nearest one and commenced using
his fork for all he was worth. Pretty
soon cry of rage came from the ami
NAL, upon which the trainer Jumped
from that one to another, repeating the
fork performance until. after at least ten
minutes of fierce fighting and jumping,
the elephants creed peccavi and swan
tremblingly to the shore. Once there the
keepers soon had them under sujection,
but Artingdale, who had displayed such
intrepidity and courage, sank into dead
faint the moment he touched the Shore
Well, l can't exactly say, but certainly
the menagerie tent smelt of burnt ele-
plant for at least two weeks after
wards. Chicago Tribune.